Apparatus for locking shift lever of automatic transmission in vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for locking a shift lever of an automatic transmission in a vehicle may include a shift lock cam including a position converting member and being connected with a brake pedal wherein the shift lock cam is pivotally coupled to a shift lever housing and elastically supported by a first elastic member, and a shift lock release lever that is pivotally coupled to the shift lever housing and elastically supported by a second elastic member, wherein one end of the shift lock release lever is selectively coupled to a shift lever body and the other end of the shift lock release lever is eccentrically coupled to the position converting member of the shift lock cam.

1. An apparatus for locking a shift lever of an automatic transmission in a vehicle, comprising:
 a shift lock cam including a position converting member and being connected with a brake pedal wherein the shift lock cam is pivotally coupled to a shift lever housing and elastically supported by a first elastic member; and 
 a shift lock release lever that is pivotally coupled to the shift lever housing and elastically supported by a second elastic member, 
 wherein one end of the shift lock release lever is selectively coupled to a shift lever body and the other end of the shift lock release lever is eccentrically coupled to the position converting member of the shift lock cam; 
 wherein the first elastic member provides an elastic force to the shift lock cam in opposite direction of the shift lever body; 
 wherein the second elastic member provides an elastic force to the shift lock release lever toward the shift lock cam; 
 wherein the position converting member includes a first portion, a second portion and a connection portion, the first portion being configured to be disposed higher than the connection portion when the brake pedal is not applied but the second portion being configured to be disposed higher than the connection portion when the brake pedal is applied; 
 wherein the second portion is disposed in rearward direction of the connecting portion toward the shift lever body and the first portion is disposed opposite the second portion with respect to the connecting portion; 
 wherein the connection portion is coupled to the brake pedal; 
 wherein the shift lock cam includes a cable connection protrusion that protrudes from a lateral surface thereof to be coupled to the brake pedal, the cable connection protrusion forming the connection portion; 
 wherein the cable connection protrusion is coupled to the brake pedal by a shift lock cable; and 
 wherein the position converting member is configured to be recessed in a track shape on the other lateral surface of the shift lock cam, the position converting member including: 
 a lower guide surface and an upper guide surface, wherein one end of the lower guide surface and one end of the upper guide surface are connected to each other to form the first portion; and 
 a connecting surface connecting the other end of the upper guide surface with the other end of the lower guide surface, wherein a joint connecting the other end of the lower guide surface and the connecting surface forms the second portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the position converting member is configured to be recessed in a track shape on the other lateral surface of the shift lock cam and formed to be open on an upper surface of the shift lock cam and has a lower guide surface, both distal ends of which include the first and second portions respectively. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shift lock cam includes:
 a cam rotary shaft protruding from a side thereof such that the second elastic member is fitted on outer circumference of the cam rotary shaft; and 
 a hinge bolt passing through the cam rotary shaft and coupled to the shift lever housing, while functioning as a rotational center of the shift lock cam. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus an engine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shift lock release lever includes:
 a lever body rotatably coupled to the shift lever housing; 
 a first protruding rod protruding from the lever body and having a free end configured to be selectively coupled to the shift lever body; 
 a second protruding rod protruding from the lever body and having a free end configured to be eccentrically coupled to the position converting member of the shift lock cam. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus an engine as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the lever body is coupled to the shift lever housing by a hinge shaft, while functioning as a rotational center. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus an engine as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the free end of the second protruding rod has a rod protrusion configured to be inserted into the position converting member of the shift lock cam, the rod protrusion integrally formed with the second protruding rod. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the free end of the first protruding rod is slanted with a predetermined angle to form a wedge to increase a friction between the free end of the first protruding rod and the shift lever body. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus an engine as defined in  claim 4 , wherein a support protrusion protrudes from the lever body to couple the second elastic member and the shift lever housing. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic member is a torsion spring. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second elastic member is a torsion spring. 
     
     
       11. An automatic transmission comprising the apparatus as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. A passenger vehicle comprising the apparatus as defined in  claim 1 .